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| Union Tourism Minister refuses to share dais with GA Mir | | Cancels Kashmir trip, leaves organizers red faced | | Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: Confusion prevailed at SKICC in summer capital here today when the two important guests, Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Shripad Yesso Naik and the JK Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir did not turn up to attend a function organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Forum.
Organizers had made all the arrangements to welcome the guests but the function lost its sheen in absence of the two high profile dignitaries. "The Union Tourism Minister had promised us that he will attend the function and would announce a special package for tourism in Kashmir," one of the organizers told Early Times.
Sources said that JKPF is an offshoot of the BJP and had created hype about Tourism Minister's visit to Kashmir. "The Forum had sent invitations to prominent businessmen, including hoteliers and travel agents, and had assured them that Naik would interact with them and listen to their grievances."
Sources said that JKPF extending invitation to the JK Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir irked a few BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. "They informed the party high command about the invitation being extended to a Congress Minister," sources added.
"The matter about State Congress Minister being invited to the function was deliberated threadbare by the BJP leaders. It was unanimously decided that Naik sharing stage with a Congress minister ahead of Assembly elections in JK won't be feasible," said a source.
"On the advice of the state BJP leaders Naik cancelled his proposed Kashmir visit," he added.
Sources said the Tourism Minister G A Mir had initially agreed to attend the function but after he learned that JKPF is an off shoot of the BJP, he decided to stay away.
When Early Times contacted the BJP's media incharge Altaf Thakur to ascertain what went wrong, he said, "the Union Tourism Minister cancelled his trip at the last moment as he had to fly to Goa."
Sources said that senior BJP leaders have taken a strong note of the "goof-up" and have advised the people associated with the Kashmir's BJP wing to refrain from being "over enthusiastic" about inviting Union Ministers to the state. "Had Naik visited Kashmir today and shared the dais with a Congress Minister it would have sent a wrong message. The Tourism Minister would have definitely announced some package for Jammu and Kashmir. We want credit to go to BJP and not to Congress," a senior BJP leader said.
He said that Congress led UPA-regime remained in power for 10-years. "People in JK even don't know the name of the former Tourism Minister as he hardly visited the state," the leader added.
He said that since the day BJP led UPA-Government has come into power in Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Jammu and Kashmir twice while Union Ministers too have been visiting JK regularly.
"The Tourism Minister had accepted the JKPF's invite but the organizers messed up the protocol. They should have been careful before extending invitation to a Congress Minister," the leader added. |
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